Last season, rotating Michael Rocco and David Watford at quarterback contributed mightily to Virginia’s 28-14 home loss to North Carolina State. Saturday, juggling Phillip Sims and Rocco created no hiccups as the Cavaliers dusted the Wolfpack 33-6.

“It was a determination that we have two guys that are very talented players that provide different things to our team,” coach Mike London said.

Fair enough. But that’s been the case throughout the season, and rotating quarterbacks is far more perilous than switching tailbacks, receivers or even linemen.

It’s a rhythm thing, for offenses and quarterbacks, though you wouldn’t have known it from Saturday.

Rocco and Sims contributed with their feet and arms. Sims started, completed 8-of-10 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, and scored the game’s first points on a 1-yard run. Rocco was 12-of-23 for 83 yards and a score, and rushed for 36 yards on five carries.

London and coordinator Bill Lazor certainly were committed to the rotation Saturday, lifting Sims even after he connected with Tim Smith for a 38-yard touchdown.

Maybe London and Lazor are right. Maybe this is a way to keep both quarterbacks engaged, especially short-term.

But even with only three regular-season games remaining, I suspect the lack of continuity at the game’s linchpin position will hurt the Cavs.

Other notes, numbers and observations from Saturday:

* Sims’ only apparent miscue came on the opening series, when on first-and-goal from the 4, he dropped a pass from tailback Perry Jones on a trick play that completely fooled State’s defense.

“It was so open,” Sims said with a wide smile. “I was thinking about the celebration, to be honest. I’d never had a pass thrown to me. Pretty much thinking about what I was going to do after I caught it, and I took my eyes off it.”

And what would he have done?

“It might have cost me a 15-yard penalty,” Sims said. “But I’m going to hold it a secret. You never know. Might get the chance to do it again.”

Sims made up for the drop two plays later when he avoided the blitz, rolled right and outraced defenders to the pylon for a touchdown.

* Virginia led 16-0 at halftime, the same score by which Florida State led the Wolfpack here last month, only to lose 17-16.

But for one day, UVa was no FSU. The Cavaliers forced a three-and-out on the Wolfpack’s opening series of the third quarter and followed with a 64-yard touchdown drive capped by the Sims-to-Smith hook-up.